David Cross on the GOP, Trump and brokered conventions: "They're fucked. They're just fucked."

[Miles Archer]

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/david-cross-why-donald-trump-will-not-be-president-20160311

I have no fear that Trump will be elected. I don't think it's going to happen. I am pretty confident in that. His unfavorability is so high, and his hardcore voters may vote for him but I don't see a lot of moderate conservatives or Reagan Democrats coming over to Trump at all. He has no viable policy papers written and nothing he's composed holds up under scrutiny. There's enough stuff out there about him.

But should he end up with the nomination, [the GOP] has to give it to him. Otherwise it will turn off every single voter for flouting the will of the people. If there's some kind of brokered convention or they draft a third person to come in — whether it's Paul Ryan or whoever — that's also disaster. They're fucked. They're just fucked.

This is a gift to the Democrats, the debates and all of these people trashing him. The one mitigating factor is how loathed Hillary Clinton is. And she's just reviled by people on the left and the right, for what some would say are fairly obvious reasons.

But by the third debate, it's going to be a joke. [Trump] debating Hillary Clinton? She's not a pussy! She knows what she's doing, as far as debating goes. She's got a machine. This is what her whole life has been geared toward and working toward. That's why she did so many disingenuous things and did what was politically convenient for decades and decades. It's all about this. She knows what she's doing and Trump does not. The people that she has around her know what they're doing and have been doing this for decades. The people that Trump have around him do not. It's going to be tough for me to vote for Hillary Clinton, but I'll do it.

[tkmorris]

1. Can't really argue with any of this

I don't think Hillary is as skilled a debater as Cross seems to believe, but I doubt it would matter. It's just so damned sad that on the election cycle that the Repubs basically HAND us the win we are likely going to be running such a milquetoast candidate. This was our opportunity to really get a win for a Progressive leader, and we are pissing it away.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

2. Uh-Oh - author used the P word - Heavens ! Now all the anti-P worders

will be out

This article is so true !! Trump knows even if he doesn't get to the magic number - it doesn't matter - he will have to most.

[Jarqui]

3. "She knows what she's doing and Trump does not."

On a whole bunch of levels, that's true. No question about it.

But one thing that doesn't jive with his claim ... Trump just beat the Bush machine and a whole bunch of other politicians who supposedly know what they're doing better than Trump. And he did it against the GOP establishment who don't like him or want him.

In theory, right now, Hillary should beat him:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_clinton-5491.html

But if Trump represents the GOP's only shot at the White House, they're going to get behind him before they get behind Hillary. I'm sure Hillary can get some crossover. But Trump in that contest is the candidate of change:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/congressional_job_approval-903.html
People are not happy with Washington and do want change.

"They're fucked. They're just fucked."
I don't think anyone can call anything too accurately in 2016. Not even Nate Silver. Even though it's advantage Hillary and Predictwise gives Dems 68% chance to win the White House vs 32% for the GOP, I don't think this one is in the bag yet. There's a long way to go.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. good point

But one thing that doesn't jive with his claim ... Trump just beat the Bush machine and a whole bunch of other politicians who supposedly know what they're doing better than Trump. And he did it against the GOP establishment who don't like him or want him.

But one thing to think about...notice Trump (being so uneducated on issues) co-opts a lot on what others say. You can tell he's listening to others and pieces together his own response when they get to him. On a one-on-one with Bernie or Hillary he will be completely on his own - like always first.

[Wounded Bear]

16. Well, nobody wanted Bush either....

talk about milk toast. Bush was warmed over milk toast.

Trump wasn't the only one on the Repub ticket that beat Bush. So, I don't read anything into Trump's beating Bush. Pretty much anybody would have beyond the bottom 6-8 candidates on the slate when they started.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. Did you watch the debate last night? I was so disappointed when

they didn't ask Trump or Cruz about global warming.

[whatthehey]

11. Only because the "Not Trump" vote was, and is, split many ways.

Trump's ceiling is pretty much what he's got now. If it hadn't been for a dozen or more establishment choices to pick from he'd be way back.

[Jarqui]

13. I think that's true.

If Cruz or Rubio had gone head to head with him & with the rest out, polls that asked that question resulted in the Canuck or the Robot leading.

The odd thing about Trump v Clinton is they're the two most disliked candidates running. So the contest could get really ugly, trying to get folks to hate the other one more because it's a real uphill battle to change people's mind once they've decided they do not like a politician.

That's why Bernie does so much better against Trump. He's not a guy a lot of people would hate. They might not like him but hate? Not many.

[progressoid]

4. Aaaayup.

[Octafish]

5. They ARE fucked.

Trump is their monster.

Brokered convention releases all monsters.

LFOL.

Oh, and if Bernie's the nominee: No one in the GOP stands a chance in the debates or the general election.

[longship]

6. Just needs some hot soup!

[underpants]

9. Former DU'er as I understand it

Perhaps (twists mustache) a current member????

[Initech]

17. That's awesome, I love his standup albums.

The bit where he talks about doing morning drive time radio shows hungover as shit still kills me.

[underpants]

20. He was great in the Chipmunk movies

Staying in a chicken outfit on a beach for most of the movie must have been tough.

Hey, I have a kid. I had to watch the chipmunk movies, okay?

[joeybee12]

10. Not reccing for all the delusional Hillary bashing

byt the tool that wrote the article.

[snooper2]

14. I wonder why the die-hard Hillary fans just don't understand, people just don't really like her

even people that will vote for her...

Because she will probably be the only option.

[Kingofalldems]

12. Davis Cross is a comedian last I checked.

He knows no more about politics than anyone here.

[Initech]

18. So are Lewis Black and Jon Stewart, does that make them less qualified?

[Kingofalldems]

21. I didn't say they or Cross were less qualified.

Read sir.

And then you can remove that asswipe smilie.

[Sunlei]

15. I don't think the extremist RW will have him win that primary. If Trump feels scammed, he can

go independent and take revenge on his Republican party

Who would have thought a year ago, Trump would make Jeb Bush cry.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

19. They blue it!